I can't remember if this has been posted before or not: Robert Guillaume singing "Music of the Night" in a Halloween special conducted by Erich Kunzel. The overall setting (and opening) is very cool, but... Guillaume displays weak vocals here. Uneven singing - I'm constantly getting the feeling of him missing the notes or going off pitch. He seldom does, but it's the insecurity he gives me as a listener I dislike. Was he like that in the actual show?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5b34bMIv-ro

_________________JOSEFINE TO THE PHANTOM:You come off as... somewhat... rough...

No, this video was recorded after he had suffered a rather violent stroke. It is not a good example of his singing, which was confident and powerful in the role. This video isn't particularly better in terms of showing off his vocal prowess or his acting abilities combined with the lack of emotion from the otherwise automatonlike Dale Kristen

Count-Alexiel-Ravenswood wrote:No, this video was recorded after he had suffered a rather violent stroke. It is not a good example of his singing, which was confident and powerful in the role. This video isn't particularly better in terms of showing off his vocal prowess or his acting abilities combined with the lack of emotion from the otherwise automatonlike Dale Kristen

THIS video

LOVE the blue shading on Robert's mask. If I ever had one made for myself, I'd go for that look. I've said this before in my reviews, but something in Crivello's vocal styling in the role reminds me of a more forceful version of Guillaume.

SenorSwanky's right, the stroke he suffered in the late 90s/early 00s from took a terrible toll on him. I remember the first interview he gave during his recuperation and he could barely speak. I'm not familiar with this particular series of concerts so I can't attest to the accuracy of the date of airing on the video you posted, Anéa, but he sounds a lot like he does on the recording of MotN on his solo album (which was also sung in a softer, restrained manner)

R.

_________________Proud former member of TMCPMCKeeper of Brianne Morgan's Masquerade hip-swishwww.phantoonsoftheopera.com

Raphael wrote:SenorSwanky's right, the stroke he suffered in the late 90s/early 00s from took a terrible toll on him. I remember the first interview he gave during his recuperation and he could barely speak. I'm not familiar with this particular series of concerts so I can't attest to the accuracy of the date of airing on the video you posted, Anéa, but he sounds a lot like he does on the recording of MotN on his solo album (which was also sung in a softer, restrained manner)

The caption on the video say it aired in 1996, I'm assuming October/November sometime. It makes sense that he was vocally stronger when doing the role, though. I doubt he would have lasted as long as he did (I wanna say 1,5 years?) in the role in a prestigious Phantom production in Los Angeles if he didn't wow the audience. That's why I found the clip so surprising, but also why I felt I had to ask if he was like that on stage. That second clip is indeed a lot better.

_________________JOSEFINE TO THE PHANTOM:You come off as... somewhat... rough...

operafantomet wrote:It makes sense that he was vocally stronger when doing the role, though. I doubt he would have lasted as long as he did (I wanna say 1,5 years?) in the role in a prestigious Phantom production in Los Angeles if he didn't wow the audience.

No, he was only in it for a few months, between MC's runs.

That clip reminds me of how amazing MC and Gaines were. And I love that one of the anchors mentions at the end that Gaines and Kristien would be welcome in any of the other productions; Gaines certainly took advantage of that fact and was, if anything, even better on Broadway.

That was beautiful. On another note, Kyla Ross from the US women's gymnastics team used a version of the title song in what I think was an Asian language (Korean maybe?) for her floor exercise in the team final competition that won them the gold.